The Grand Views

Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: Sports

Jennifer Jorgensen, freshman forward, was selceted as MCC Player of the Week for the third time this season. She averages 16.4 points and eight rebounds.

When Jennifer Jorgensen, freshman forward, graduated from high school she had a impressive basketball career: Miss Iowa Basketball 2008, second in all-time scoring and one of only four players to score 2,000 points and make 1,000 rebounds in a career.

She played basketball for one year at the University of the Pacific, a Division 1 school in California. Now, Jorgensen is a member of the Viking women's basketball team.

"Last year at Pacific, I had a really bad experience and was looking at going different places. I knew if I went another Divison 1 school, I'd have to sit out a year and I didn't want to sit out," Jorgensen said.

She said Pacific was far away and she wanted to find a school closer to home. Her father Mike, who was also her high school basketball coach, called Coach Garey Smith.

"He thought that I could come and be a contribution," Jorgensen said.

Jorgensen made her decision to come Grand View after talking to Smith and visiting campus.

The biggest difference between Pacific and Grand View is the time commitment and the coaches. Jorgensen said at Pacific, practices were longer, study halls were required and the coaches were very focused.

"Their job was to win and they didn't care about anything else," Jorgensen said, "They didn't care about the players or anything."

Jorgensen said she likes it here. While there's still the basketball commitment, she said the coaching staff understands the players have school and jobs and other obligations.

"They want to win, but they realize that there are more important things in life," Jorgensen said.

One of the things that helped Jorgensen become a better player was having her father as her coach. She said it made her tougher and helped her understand more about coaching.

"We'd come home after games and watch game tape and talk," Jorgensen said. "It really helped me because I coached last summer and it helped me to have a coaching perspective."

Coach Smith said, "She's a good player and we have a lot of those. She's blended in with the rest of them quite well. She has a little leadership to her at the right times and does things smartly, and that's crucial."

Jorgensen said she's glad she chose to be a Viking.

"It's just nice to enjoy basketball again," Jorgensen said.

 

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